Disaster Planning: Are Your Pets Ready?

I realize that tomorrow is Halloween, but I’m just not in a dress-up-my-cat-in-a-funny-costume kind of mood. Forgive me for my frightful feelings, but I can’t seem to muster up a merry mood as my thoughts are with the people and pets devastated by last week’s firestorms in Southern California.

As the Santa Ana winds howled and an avalanche of ash descended on Santa Barbara, our neighbors to the south were packing up their possessions and fleeing the fast-moving flames. As thousands of panicked people ran for their lives, I couldn’t help but wonder, “Were they able to take their beloved animals with them?”

In the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, if you recall, officials forced residents of the Gulf Coast to evacuate without their animals. Who can forget the images of a small, white dog being wrenched from the arms of a little boy? “Snowball, Snowball,” the boy cried in anguish until he vomited. Because of this policy, thousands of animals in the region didn’t stand a ghost of a chance of surviving. Even if they did manage to stay alive in the days and weeks following the hurricanes, many of the displaced cats, dogs, birds, and other creatures ended up in overcrowded shelters where, to this day, many of them are still languishing.

During the recent fires—for the first time in history—officials allowed people and pets to evacuate together, thanks to the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (P.E.T.S.) Act, which was signed into law by President Bush in October, 2006. The P.E.T.S. Act requires states seeking FEMA assistance to accommodate pets and service animals in their plans for evacuating residents facing disasters. Public venues such as Del Mar Fairgrounds opened its doors to thousands of displaced horses and other animals, and their human caretakers took up temporary residence in the jockey quarters or crashed on cots alongside their animals’ crates and cages.

Eric Sakach, California director for The Humane Society of the United States , says the response to the wildfires has been the best he’s seen in more than 30 years of looking after the needs of animals during disasters.

“The citizens of San Diego County have responded in tremendous fashion,” Sakach said. “The evacuation shelters have welcomed animals. All of the agencies involved in the animal rescue effort are cooperating to address the needs of the animals and to help this community recover.”

If an emergency like the recent firestorms were to roar through our coastal community, would you be prepared to safely evacuate your pets? If not, don’t worry. I’ve put together some tips that will help you prepare in the event of a disaster:

• Most importantly, never leave your pets behind when you evacuate! Make arrangements to take them to a family member, a veterinary office, an animal shelter or, ideally, to stay with you.
  
  
• Make sure each of your pets are wearing a collar and tag with your name and phone number in the event a pet is lost. As an added safety measure, have all your pets microchipped (your veterinarian can perform this simple procedure).
  
  
• Carry a current photograph of your pet in your wallet for identification purposes.
  
  
• Purchase or make a pet first aid kit. A basic kit should contain scissors, cotton gauze, first aid tape, triple antibiotic ointment, thermometer, hydrogen peroxide, cotton swabs, pepto-bismol, buffered aspirin, styptic powder, and blunt tweezers.
  
  
• Have at least a three-day’s supply of your pet’s food (and water) on hand as well as any medication they may be taking. Don’t forget the non-breakable or collapsible food and water bowls as well as a can opener and spoon for serving wet food.
  
  
• Keep a cat carrier handy (one for each cat or other small animal you have) as well as a leash (one for each of your dogs).

Now that I’ve given you some suggestions for safeguarding your pets, I’m feeling much more in the holiday spirit. Perhaps I’ll dress up my cat after all and nose around my neighborhood in search of chocolate (for me) and catnip (for Miss Bella). Happy Howl-o-ween!

 

In the event of a disaster, Karen will not leave the house without her “Five C’s”:  Cat, Cash/Credit cards, Computer, Car, and Cosmetics. What does your disaster kit include? Let Karen know by emailing her at karenleestevens@cox.net.

---

By Karen Lee Stevens,
Founder & President, ALL FOR ANIMALS, Inc.
Copyright © 2008. All Rights Reserved.

---

Return to Karen Lee's Home Page
Return to the ALL FOR ANIMALS Home Page